economy

Oregon Ports

9:59 am

Thu October 24, 2013

The US House of Representative has passed legislation that would provide harbor maintenance for small ports along Oregon’s coast. A lack of federal funds has led to a major backlog on dredging and maintenance projects, threatening the economy of several cities.

Representative Peter DeFazio is one of 47 co-sponsors of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013. He spoke on the House floor Wednesday.

University of Oregon

11:09 am

Wed October 9, 2013

The University of Oregon's new faculty union has ratified its contract with administration.

The two-year contract is the result of 10 months of negotiations. Susan Anderson is a German Professor at the University of Oregon. She says tenured faculty and instructors formed United Academics, a union of more than 18-hundred members. All were working toward a common goal.

Budget

11:20 am

Mon October 7, 2013

The City of Eugene is inviting the community to attend workshops devoted to shaping the budget. Eugene is currently facing a significant gap due to the recent recession and low property tax revenues. The deficit in the general fund over the past four years has caused the city to decrease its expenses by $24 million. Last year, the city faced a similar gap of $5.3 million and was forced to dip into the reserve fund. There will be five workshops in all, the first at South Eugene High School on October 15th.

Oregon Coast

9:43 am

Thu October 3, 2013

Thirty years ago, many viewed Astoria, Oregon as a grim, drug-infested and alcohol-infused place, down on its luck following the exodus of the canneries and lumber mills that once populated its riverfront. Back then, most travelers to Oregon’s North Coast passed through town along Highway 30 without stopping.

But in recent years, increasing numbers do stop, including several dozen cruise ships each year. So what, exactly, has happened to transform this once-struggling community into a must-visit destination?

Business

1:07 pm

Wed October 2, 2013

Lane County has given a Canadian company a check for 100-thousand dollars as an incentive to expand to Coburg.

APEL manufactures aluminum extrusions in Springfield. It was looking to expand. Lane County Commissioner Sid Leiken says the company was considering going to Arizona. The Board voted unanimously to offer APEL an incentive to re-locate to Coburg.

Labor

12:54 pm

Thu September 26, 2013

The Oregon University System and its classified workers have reached a tentative agreement on a 2-year contract, averting a threatened strike on the first day of classes. The agreement was reached at 2:30 Thursday morning .